Most of us think of the television Western series Gunsmoke when we hear the word “outlaw,” but have you ever wondered what the difference is between an outlaw and a criminal is? Believe it or not, there’s actually a difference. In historical legal systems, an outlaw was declared to be “outside the protection of the law,” so anyone was legally empowered to kill them. That’s why folks in the Old West would pull out their sidearm and shoot a person they deemed guilty of a crime. A criminal, on the other hand, is someone who has broken the law, but is also protected by the legal system. It all boils down to “outlaw” being an archaic word.

Sunday, June 7, 2020

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On This Day

1968 Sirhan Sirhan is indicted for the assassination of US Senator Robert Kennedy. He was sentenced to life in prison. He has been up for parole 15 times, denied each time on the grounds that he has not expressed adequate remorse for his crime.

Fact of the Day

The 1883 Eruption of Krakatoa in Indonesia was so loud that it was heard over 3,000 miles away, which is the equivalent of hearing a sound from Ireland while you are in Boston. It ruptured the eardrums of sailors over 40 miles away.

Nature Oddities

Rats can go up to 2 weeks without water, longer than camels, who can only go 3-5 days without water.

Food and Drink

English legend claims that the name “sirloin steak” comes from when King James I of England was so impressed by the quality of his steak that he knighted the loin of beef, which was referred to thereafter as “Sirloin.”